US patient dies from rare mosquito-borne disease

An individual within the northeastern US state of New Hampshire has died after contracting the uncommon mosquito-borne jap equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, well being authorities introduced Tuesday.

The affected person, recognized solely as an grownup from the city of Hampstead, was hospitalized with extreme central nervous system illness and later succumbed to the sickness, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) mentioned in an announcement.

“The final reported human EEEV an infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS recognized three human infections, together with two fatalities,” the division mentioned.

The new an infection and demise comes amid rising issues from state officers throughout New England in regards to the rising danger of EEE, a risk believed to be exacerbated by local weather change.

Earlier this month, Massachusetts introduced the 12 months’s first human case of EEE within the state—a person in his 80s—and officers have requested the general public to watch voluntary out of doors curfews, closed public parks, and initiated aerial and floor spraying to manage the mosquito inhabitants.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signs of jap equine encephalitis embrace fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral modifications and drowsiness.

It may trigger extreme neurological illness, corresponding to irritation of the mind and membranes across the spinal wire, generally known as encephalitis and meningitis.

Approximately 30 p.c of these contaminated die, and plenty of survivors endure ongoing bodily or psychological impacts. Individuals below 15 and over 50 are thought of at larger danger.

There are at present no vaccines or remedies obtainable.

Health officers advise utilizing insect repellent, carrying protecting clothes outdoor and eliminating standing water round properties to cut back mosquito breeding websites.

A 2023 report by Climate Central highlighted that the variety of “mosquito days”—heat, humid situations ideally suited for mosquito exercise—has elevated throughout a lot of the U.S. over the previous 4 a long time resulting from human-caused local weather change.

© 2024 AFP